A new Ben project for 2017 —- Hoax, a Bigfoot thriller directed by Matt Allen and written by Allen and Scott Park. Ben says he couldn’t turn down the remote Colorado filming location. As you all know this is not Ben’s first film that featured Bigfoot 😉

I attended a showing of Outlaws and Angels in Dallas last night and am going to share my thoughts. The film is available also on iTunes and VUDU in the US. I highly recommend seeing it in the theater as it was intended if at all possible (besides The Eyes on the big screen are so worth it!). I have been a fan of westerns since I was kid — all of them from Gunsmoke to The Wild Bunch. Two of my favorites are both dark and slightly disturbing Hang ‘Em High and The Beguiled. Outlaws and Angels falls into this darker category. Dirty, gritty, violent. The characters, all of them are well drawn, even those we barely encounter. To me the story really focuses on Florence (Francesca Eastwood) and her father George (Ben Browder). The arrival of the outlaws led by Henry (Chad Michael Murray) is the catalyst Florence needs to change her future. Secrets are revealed and the primary players all are affected. There is cold,calculated violence and there is very dark humor. Ben fans, as you know he doesn’t look like you have ever seen him nor is this his usual role. It confirms what we know that there is great depth to his abilities. The two outlaws that are part of Henry’s gang ( played fabulously by Keith Loneker and Nathan Russell) also surprise in that they aren’t just two dimensional cronies, but rather are given some layers of their own. Teri Polo as the mother and Madisen Beatey as Florence’s older sister, also convince you they are of this strange family in the New Mexico territory. Francesca Eastwood utilizes any genetic gifts she has received from her parents (mom Frances Fisher is also in the film) along with her own skills to make Florence a character that arouses both your compassion and fear.

There was a short Q and A after the Los Angeles showing and a few Scapers reported that the director said he would take criticism of the film but not his cast. Her is a photo of director/writer JT Mollner from the Q and A courtesy of tiggerscaper!

Tonight was an invitation only premiere for Outlaws and Angels held by MGM. The movie will be out this Friday July 15th in select US cities as well as online. I will have a review after I see it and there will be report from the director’s panel after a screening in Los Angeles. Here are a couple of photos — if you have seen the trailer you will be relieved to see the Ben we “know” 😉